Optical receiving station, optical communication system, and dispersion controlling method

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an optical receiving station, an optical communication system, and a dispersion controlling method for precisely controlling chromatic dispersion in an optical transmission line or chromatic dispersion in an optical transmission line that varies with time. An optical receiving station is provided with a dispersion compensating section for receiving, via an optical transmission line, an optical signal modulated according to an optical duo-binary modulation method and for changing a dispersion value to be used for compensating for chromatic dispersion in an optical transmission line, an intensity detecting section for detecting the intensity of a specific frequency component of the optical signal output from the dispersion compensating section, and a controlling section for adjusting the dispersion value of the dispersion compensating section so that the output of the intensity detecting section has a predetermined extreme value.

This application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 11/300,316,filed Dec. 15, 2005, currently pending, which is a divisional of Ser.No. 09/790,695, filed Feb. 23, 2001, which is now U.S. Pat. No.7,006,770, issued Feb. 28, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical receiving station and anoptical communication system for compensating for chromatic dispersionin an optical transmission line in an optical transmission system wherean optical duo-binary modulation method is used. The invention alsorelates to a dispersion compensating method for adjusting the totaldispersion amount of an optical transmission line.

At present, optical communication apparatuses capable of transmitting alarge amount of optical signals over an ultra-long distance are requiredfor construction of future multimedia networks. Optical transmissionsystems of 10 Gb/s have been put in practical use in current trunk lineoptical communication, to satisfy the above requirement. Further, timedivision multiplexing optical transmission systems of 40 Gb/s have beenstudied and developed.

2. Description of the Related Art

The maximum transmission distance of an optical fiber without relayingis limited by attenuation and chromatic dispersion of an optical signal.To increase the transmission distance, it is necessary to compensate forthe attenuation and chromatic dispersion. The attenuation is compensatedby a rare-earth-element-doped fiber amplifier or the like. On the otherhand, the chromatic dispersion is compensated by inserting, in anoptical transmission line, a dispersion compensator having a fixeddispersion characteristic of an opposite sign to the sign of the valueof dispersion received by an optical signal traveling through an opticalfiber.

Incidentally, being in inverse proportion to the square of the bit rateof an optical signal, the dispersion compensation tolerance at 40 Gb/sis as small as 1/16 of that at 10 Gb/s. This makes it necessary toprecisely adjust the dispersion value of a dispersion compensator.

The dispersion compensation tolerance signifies the width of anallowable dispersion compensation value range for satisfaction of acertain transmission condition when compensating for chromaticdispersion by a dispersion compensator. For example, it is an allowabledispersion compensation value range for suppressing the power penalty(i.e., deterioration in the receiver sensitivity of an optical signaldue to transmission) to 1 dB or less.

The chromatic dispersion of an optical transmission line varies withtime due to a temperature variation, for example. The variation amountof dispersion of an optical transmission line is given by (temperaturedependence of the zero dispersion wavelength of the optical transmissionline)×(temperature variation)×(dispersion slope)×(transmissiondistance). For example, where the optical transmission line is adispersion-shifted optical fiber, the temperature variation is −40° C.to +60° C., and the transmission distance is 600 km, 0.03 nm/° C.×100°C.×0.08 ps/nm²/km×600 km=144 ps/nm.

This value is not negligible even if an optical duo-binary modulationmethod with a wide dispersion compensation tolerance is employed tomodulate an optical signal.

A simulation shows that with a possible transmission condition of theeye pattern penalty 1 dB or less, the dispersion compensation toleranceof an optical duo-binary modulation method of 40 Gb/s is 400 ps/nm,which is 22 km (400 ps/nm+18.6 ps/nm/km) in terms of the length of anexisting single-mode optical fiber.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an opticalreceiving station, an optical communication system, and a dispersioncontrolling method for precisely controlling chromatic dispersion in anoptical transmission line for transmitting an optical signal in anoptical transmission system where an optical duo-binary modulationmethod is used.

Another object of the invention is to provide an optical receivingstation, an optical communication system, and a dispersion controllingmethod for precisely controlling chromatic dispersion in an opticaltransmission line that varies with time in an optical transmissionsystem where an optical duo-binary modulation method is employed.

An optical duo-binary modulation method and modulator are disclosed inJapanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei08-139681 andJapanese National Patent Publication No. Hei09-501296, for example.

The above objects are attained by the following sections.

According to a first section of the invention, an optical receivingstation comprises a dispersion compensating section for receiving, viaan optical transmission line, an optical signal modulated according toan optical duo-binary modulation method, and for changing a dispersionvalue to be used for compensating for chromatic dispersion in an opticaltransmission line; an intensity detecting section for detectingintensity of a specific frequency component of the optical signal outputfrom the dispersion compensating section; and a controlling section foradjusting the dispersion value of the dispersion compensating section sothat an output of the intensity detecting section has a predeterminedextreme value.

According to a second section of the invention, an optical receivingstation comprises a filter for receiving, via an optical transmissionline, an optical signal modulated according to an optical duo-binarymodulation method, and for changing a passing wavelength range to beused for compensating for chromatic dispersion in an opticaltransmission line; an intensity detecting section for detectingintensity of a specific frequency component of the optical signal outputfrom the filter; and a wavelength controlling section for adjusting awavelength of the optical signal so that an output of the intensitydetecting section has a predetermined extreme value, and for adjustingthe passing wavelength range of the filter to pass the adjustedwavelength.

According to a third section of the invention, in the optical receivingstation according to the first or second section, a dispersioncompensator for compensating for the chromatic dispersion in the opticaltransmission line with a fixed dispersion value is further provided andthe optical signal is input to the intensity detecting section via thedispersion compensator.

According to a fourth section of the invention, an optical communicationsystem comprises an optical sending station for generating an opticalsignal according to an optical duo-binary modulation method; an opticaltransmission line for transmitting the generated optical signal; and theoptical receiving station according to one of the first to thirdsections for receiving the transmitted optical signal.

According to a fifth section of the invention, a dispersion controllingmethod for controlling chromatic dispersion in an optical transmissionline for transmitting an optical signal modulated according to anoptical duo-binary modulation method comprises the steps of detectingintensity of a specific frequency component of the optical signal; andadjusting a total dispersion amount of the optical transmission line sothat the detected intensity has a predetermined extreme value.

For instance, the receiver sensitivity of an optical signal can beevaluated according to the eye aperture of an eye pattern. A certainrelationship holds between the eye aperture characteristic with respectto a variance of the total chromatic dispersion of an opticaltransmission line and the intensity characteristic of a specificfrequency component with respect to a variance of the chromaticdispersion.

Therefore, in the above optical receiving station, the opticalcommunication system, and the dispersion compensating method, it ispossible to precisely control the total chromatic dispersion since thetotal dispersion amount of an optical transmission line is controlled bya variable dispersion compensating section in accordance with theintensity of a detectable specific frequency component without directlydetecting the total chromatic dispersion of the optical transmissionline. The precise control of the total chromatic dispersion enablesoptimization of the receiver sensitivity and long distance transmission.Further, the above optical the receiving station, the opticalcommunication system, and the dispersion compensating method can copewith variations with time because the dispersion value of the dispersioncompensating section is variable.

The invention makes it possible to precisely compensate an opticalsignal modulated according to an optical duo-binary modulation methodfor chromatic dispersion in an optical transmission line. The inventionalso makes it possible to precisely compensate for chromatic dispersionin an optical transmission line that varies with time. Therefore, thetransmission distance of can be increased in an optical communicationsystem according to the invention. Further, the invention enableseffective use of existing optical communication networks with1.3-μm-band, single-mode optical fibers.

Other preferred sections for attaining the objects will be described inthe following embodiments of the invention and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature, principle, and utility of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts aredesignated by identical reference numbers, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show the configurations of optical communication systemsaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of an optical sending station of theoptical communication system according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an optical receiving station of theoptical communication system according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows one exemplary configuration of a variable dispersioncompensator;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are graphs showing voltage patterns to be applied torespective segments of the variable dispersion compensator and adispersion characteristic for each voltage pattern, respectively;

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a dispersion compensation method for a casewhere no nonlinear optical effect occurs in light transmission;

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a dispersion compensation method for a casewhere a nonlinear optical effect occurs in light transmission;

FIGS. 8A-8C are graphs showing an intensity vs. total chromaticdispersion characteristics and an eye aperture vs. total chromaticdispersion characteristic in a linear range;

FIGS. 9A-9C are graphs showing an intensity vs. total chromaticdispersion characteristics and an eye aperture vs. total chromaticdispersion characteristic in a nonlinear range;

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of a modified optical receiving stationthat is used in the optical communication system according to the firstembodiment;

FIGS. 11A and 11B show the configurations of optical communicationsystems according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 shows the configuration of an optical sending station of theoptical communication system according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows the configuration of an optical receiving station of theoptical communication system according to the second embodiment; and

FIGS. 14A and 14B each show an intensity vs. wavelength characteristicand an eye aperture vs. wavelength characteristic; and

FIG. 15 shows the configuration of a modified optical receiving stationthat is used in the optical communication system according to the secondembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described withreference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the samecomponents are given the same reference symbols and descriptionstherefor may be omitted.

First Embodiment

(Configuration)

A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1Bto FIG. 10. The first embodiment is directed to an optical sendingstation, an optical communication system, and a dispersion controllingmethod according to the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1A, an optical communication system according to thefirst embodiment is composed of an optical sending station 11, anoptical transmission line 12, and an optical receiving station 14.

An optical signal generated by the optical sending station 11 throughmodulation according to an optical duo-binary modulation method is sentto the optical transmission line 12, subjected to attenuation andchromatic dispersion in the optical transmission line 12, and thensubjected to reception processing in the optical receiving station 14.

Where the transmission distance between the optical sending station 11and the optical receiving station 14 is long, a necessary number ofrepeater stations 13 are provided in the optical transmission line 12 asshown in FIG. 1B. Having an optical amplifier etc., each repeaterstation 13 amplifies and relays an optical duo-binary signal. Examplesof the optical amplifier are a semiconductor optical amplifier and arare-earth-element-doped fiber amplifier.

Next, the configuration of the optical sending station 11 used in thisoptical communication system will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

The optical sending station 11 is composed of an NRZ generator 101, aprecoder 102, a D flip-flop (hereinafter abbreviated as “D-FF”) 103,amplifiers 104-a and 104-b, low-pass filters (hereinafter abbreviated as“LPF”) 105-a and 105-b, a semiconductor laser (hereinafter abbreviatedas “LD”) 106, and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer type optical modulator(hereinafter abbreviated as “MZ modulator”) 107.

The NRZ generator 101 generates a non-return-to-zero (hereinafterabbreviated as “NRZ”) binary electrical signal that is in accordancewith information to be transmitted from the optical sending station 11to the optical receiving station 14.

The generated NRZ signal is input to an inverter 111 of the precoder102. The precoder 102 is composed of the inverter 111, an exclusive-ORcircuit (hereinafter abbreviated as “EXOR”) 112, and a delay circuit113.

The inverter 111 inverts an NRZ signal, that is, changes the truth value“0” to “1” and “1” to “0,” and outputs the inverted NRZ signal to oneport of the EXOR 112. For example, in the case of positive logic, theinverter 111 inverts a high voltage level to a low voltage level and alow voltage level to a high voltage level, and outputs a resultingsignal to the one port of the EXOR 112.

An output of the EXOR 112 is input to the delay circuit 113 and the D-FF103. The delay circuit 113 delays the input signal by 1 bit and outputsthe delayed signal to the other port of the EXOR 112.

Therefore, EXOR 112 exclusive-ORs the outputs of the inverter 111 andthe delay circuit 113 and outputs a resulting signal.

The D-FF 103 delays a received signal by a one-clock period and outputsa resulting signal. An output Q is amplified by the amplifier 104-a andthen applied to one electrode 117-a of the MZ modulator 107 via the LPF105-a. An inverted output Q is amplified by the amplifier 104-b and thenapplied to the other electrode 117-b of the MZ modulator 107 via the LPF105-b.

The precoder 102, the D-FF 103, the amplifiers 104, and the LPFs 105convert a binary NRZ signal into a ternary, duo-binary signal.

The MZ modulator 107 has electrodes 117 and an optical waveguide 116that is formed by thermally diffusing titanium (Ti) in a lithium niobate(LiNbO₃) substrate. The optical waveguide 116 divides halfway into twobranches, the electrodes 117 are placed on the respective branches ofthe optical waveguide 116, and the branches merge with each other on theoutput side.

The LD 106 emits laser light, or an optical carrier wave. The laserlight is input to the MZ modulator 107, where it is modulated in lightintensity according to a duo-binary signal applied to the electrodes 117and thereby becomes an optical duo-binary signal, which is output to theoptical transmission line 12.

Next, the configuration of the optical receiving station 14 that is usedin this optical communication system will be described with reference toFIG. 3.

The optical receiving station 14 is composed of a dispersioncompensating part 21, a coupler 122 for branching incident light intotwo parts, an optical receiving part 123, an intensity detecting part22, and a controlling part 23. The dispersion compensating part 21 canreceive an optical duo-binary signal and change a dispersion value to beused for compensating for chromatic dispersion. The intensity detectingpart 22 detects the intensity of a specific frequency component of anoptical duo-binary signal. The controlling part 23 adjusts thedispersion value of the dispersion compensating part 21 so that theoutput of the intensity detecting part 22 has a predetermined extremevalue.

A more detailed description will be made below.

An optical duo-binary signal transmitted by the optical transmissionline 12 is input to a variable dispersion compensator (hereinafterabbreviated as “VDC”) 121 of the dispersion compensating part 21.

The VDC 121 compensates for chromatic dispersion of an opticalduo-binary signal by using a dispersion value according to a controldescribed below, and outputs a resulting signal to the optical receivingpart 123 and the intensity detecting part 22 via the coupler 122.

The optical receiving part 123 receives and processes an opticalduo-binary signal and extracts information that was sent from theoptical sending station 11. For example, the optical receiving part 123can demodulate an optical duo-binary signal into a binary electricalsignal by detecting and photoelectrically converting the opticalduo-binary signal, supplying a resulting ternary electrical signal totwo discriminators for discriminating between 1s and 0s, andexclusive-ORing outputs of the respective discriminators.

On the other hand, the intensity detecting part 22 is composed of aphotodiode (hereinafter abbreviated as “PD”) 124, a band-pass filter(hereinafter abbreviated as “BPF”) 125, an amplifier 126, and a powermeter 127.

An optical duo-binary signal that is input to the intensity detectingpart 22 is detected and photoelectrically converted by the PD 124. TheBPF 125 extracts only a 40 GHz frequency component from a resultingelectrical signal. An output of the BPF 125 is amplified to apredetermined level by the amplifier 126 and the power (intensity) ofthe amplified signal is detected by the power meter 127.

An output of the power meter 127 is input to a central processing unit(hereinafter abbreviated as “CPU”) 128 of the controlling part 23. Thecontrolling part 23 has the CPU 128 and a memory 129.

A table showing a relationship between voltage patterns and dispersionvalues of the VDC 121, programs for operation of the CPU 128, etc. arestored in advance in the memory 129. Various values etc. that occurduring execution of a program are stored in the memory 129 on eachoccasion. The memory 129 refers to the relationship table etc. inresponse to a request from the CPU 128 and outputs a result to the CPU128.

Being a microprocessor or the like, the CPU 128 outputs a signal to beused for controlling the dispersion value of the VDC 121 to a drivingcircuit 130 of the dispersion compensating part 21.

The dispersion compensating part 21 is composed of the VDC 121 and thedriving circuit 130 for driving the VDC 121. The driving circuit 130applies, to the VDC 121, voltages having a voltage pattern that is inaccordance with a signal that is output from the CPU 128 and therebychanges the dispersion value of the VDC 121.

Next, one exemplary configuration of the dispersion compensating part 21will be described.

The dispersion compensating part 21 is composed of the VDC 121 and thedriving circuit 130.

As shown in FIG. 4, the VDC 121 is configured in such a manner thatpiezoelectric elements 142 are attached to 21 respective segments of achirped fiber Bragg grating 141. When voltages that are graded as shownin FIG. 5A are applied, as application voltages V1-V21 to be supplied tothe respective piezoelectric elements 142, to the VDC 121, the pressureacting on the chirped fiber Bragg grating 141 in the longitudinaldirection varies. The dispersion value (slope of a line) is varied asshown in FIG. 5B for voltage patterns A-D shown in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 4, FIGS. 5A and 5B, and the above related descriptions are excerptsfrom M. M. Ohm et al., “Tunable Fiber Grating Dispersion Using aPiezoelectric Stack,” OFC '97 Technical Digest, WJ3, pp. 155-156.

Another, simplified version of the dispersion compensating part 21 isknown that is composed of a plurality of dispersion compensation fibershaving different dispersion compensation amounts, an optical switch, anda controlling CPU for controlling the optical switch. The dispersioncompensation amount is varied discontinuously by selecting a dispersioncompensation fiber with the optical switch.

Among other methods for implementing a variable dispersion compensatorare a method in which the dispersion value is varied by giving atemperature gradient to a fiber grating (Sergio Brarcelos et al.,“Characteristics of Chirped Fiber Gratings for Dispersion Compensation,”OFC '96 Technical Digest, WK12, pp. 161-162) and a method in which thedispersion value is varied by a temperature-variation-induced phasevariation to a PLC (planar lightwave circuit) (K. Takiguchi et al.,“Variable Group-delay Dispersion Equalizer Using Lattice-formProgrammable Optical Filter on Planar Ughtwave Circuit,” IEEE J.Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 2, 1996, pp. 270-276).

Functions and Advantages of the First Embodiment

First, the basic concept will be described.

FIG. 6 illustrates a dispersion compensation method for a case where nononlinear optical effect occurs in light transmission. In FIG. 6, thehorizontal axis represents the total chromatic dispersion in ps/nm, theleft vertical axis represents the intensity, and the right vertical axisrepresents the eye aperture. The intensity is absolute intensity and theeye aperture is a value that is normalized by the maximum verticalaperture of the eye of an eye pattern.

FIG. 6 includes two characteristic curves with respect to the totalchromatic dispersion. The lower solid-line curve represents an intensitycharacteristic of a 40 GHz frequency component of an optical duo-binarysignal. The upper solid-line curve represents an eye aperturecharacteristic. FIGS. 7-9 are drawn in the same manner as FIG. 6.

The curves in FIG. 6 show results of a simulation in which input lighthaving an average optical power of 0 dBm is input to a single-modeoptical fiber (SMF) and transmitted through it over 50 km.

As shown in FIG. 6, the eye aperture characteristic has a minimal valueat a total chromatic dispersion value of 0 ps/nm and maximal values(also greatest values in the case of FIG. 6) on the left and rightthereof. On the other hand, the intensity characteristic has a maximalvalue (also a greatest value in the case of FIG. 6) at a total chromaticdispersion value of 0 ps/nm. This results from the facts that theoptical signal is of a duo-binary modulation type and the input opticalpower of the optical signal is not large enough to cause a nonlinearoptical effect, and other factors.

Therefore, the relationship as shown in FIG. 6 holds between the eyeaperture characteristic that relates to deterioration in receiversensitivity and the intensity characteristic of the specific frequencycomponent of an optical signal that are coupled with each other via thetotal chromatic dispersion.

If it is assumed that the reception condition is that the eye apertureshould be higher than or equal to the level of point a that is lowerthan or equal to the minimal value, it is proper that the totalchromatic dispersion N be in a range of n1≦N≦n9. Therefore, if thechromatic dispersion is compensated for by a variable dispersioncompensator so that the intensity of the specific frequency component isalways equal to the greatest value, the total chromatic dispersionbecomes 0 ps/nm. At this time, the eye aperture is higher than or equalto the level of point a and hence the reception condition is satisfied.

If it is assumed that the reception condition is that the eye apertureshould be higher than or equal to the level of point b that is higherthan the minimal value, it is proper that the total chromatic dispersionN be in ranges of n2≦N≦n4 and n6≦N≦n8. In this case, if the chromaticdispersion of a variable dispersion compensator is so adjusted that theintensity of the specific frequency component is kept equal to thegreatest value, the eye aperture becomes lower than or equal to thelevel of point b. Therefore, to satisfy, as in the above case, thereception condition by adjusting the chromatic dispersion of a variabledispersion compensator so that the intensity of the specific frequencycomponent is always equal to the greatest value, a total chromaticdispersion value where the intensity of the specific frequency componenthas a greatest value may be shifted by using a dispersion compensatorhaving a fixed dispersion compensation value.

That is, the intensity of the specific frequency component is detectedvia a fixed dispersion compensator and the chromatic dispersion iscompensated for by a variable dispersion compensator so that thedetected intensity is always equal to the greatest value. With thismeasure, the eye aperture becomes higher than or equal to the level ofpoint b and hence the reception condition is satisfied. The fixedchromatic dispersion value may be set in a range of n6-n8 (or n2-n4).

In particular, if a fixed dispersion compensator having a chromaticdispersion value where the eye aperture has the greatest value, that is,a chromatic dispersion value of point n7 (or n3), the eye aperture ismade equal to the greatest value and hence the reception condition issatisfied in optimum form.

Next, a description will be made of a case where the optical power ofinput light is so large that an optical signal experiences a nonlinearoptical effect in an optical transmission line.

FIG. 7 illustrates a dispersion compensation method for a case where anonlinear optical effect occurs in light transmission.

Two curves in FIG. 7 are results of a simulation in which input lighthaving an average optical power of +15 dBm is input to a single-modeoptical fiber and transmitted through it over 50 km.

As shown in FIG. 7, the eye aperture characteristic has a greatest valuewhen the total chromatic dispersion is about 30 ps/nm. As the totalchromatic dispersion increases in a range of about 30-110 ps/nm, the eyeaperture varies gently and is approximately kept at the greatest level.On the other hand, the intensity characteristic has a plurality ofextreme values. This results from the facts that the optical signal isof a duo-binary modulation type and the input optical power of theoptical signal is large enough to cause a nonlinear optical effect, andother factors.

Therefore, the relationship as shown in FIG. 7 holds between the eyeaperture characteristic that relates to deterioration in receiversensitivity and the intensity characteristic of the specific frequencycomponent of an optical signal that are coupled with each other via thetotal chromatic dispersion.

If it is assumed that the reception condition is that the eye apertureshould be higher than or equal to the level of point c, it is properthat the total chromatic dispersion N be in a range of m1≦N≦m4. On theother hand, in this range, the intensity of the specific frequencycomponent has a minimal value at m2 and a maximal value (also a greatestvalue in the case of FIG. 7) at m3. Therefore, if the chromaticdispersion is compensated for by a variable dispersion compensator sothat the intensity of the specific frequency component is always equalto the minimal value, the eye aperture is higher than or equal to thelevel of point c and hence the reception condition is satisfied.Alternatively, if the chromatic dispersion is compensated for by avariable dispersion compensator so that the intensity of the specificfrequency component is always equal to the greatest value, the eyeaperture is higher than or equal to the level of point c and hence thereception condition is satisfied.

As described above, for each of various optical power values of inputlight, an intensity characteristic of a specific frequency component andan eye aperture characteristic with respect to the total chromaticdispersion are determined in advance for a predetermined opticaltransmission line by measurements or simulations. Then, the chromaticdispersion is compensated for by a dispersion compensation method thatis selected from the following methods (1)-(3) in accordance with theinput optical power of an optical signal and a reception condition (eyeaperture condition) in a target optical communication system:

(1) The intensity of a specific frequency component of an optical signalis detected and the total chromatic dispersion amount of the opticaltransmission line is adjusted by a variable dispersion compensator sothat the detected intensity is always equal to a maximal value.

In specific, at input optical power that causes a nonlinear opticaleffect, a plurality of maximal values exist in the intensitycharacteristic. Therefore, a maximal value is selected in a totalchromatic dispersion range in which the eye aperture satisfies thereception condition.

(2) The intensity of a specific frequency component of an optical signalis detected via a dispersion compensator having a fixed dispersionvalue, and the total chromatic dispersion amount of the opticaltransmission line is adjusted by a variable dispersion compensator sothat the detected intensity is always equal to a maximal value.

In particular, from the viewpoint of obtaining best receiversensitivity, it is preferable that the fixed dispersion value is setequal to the difference between a total chromatic dispersion amountwhere the intensity of the specific frequency component has a greatestvalue and a total chromatic dispersion amount where the eye aperture hasa greatest value.

(3) The intensity of a specific frequency component of an optical signalis detected and the total chromatic dispersion amount of the opticaltransmission line is adjusted by a variable dispersion compensator sothat the detected intensity is always equal to a minimal value.

In particular, at input optical power that causes a nonlinear opticaleffect, a plurality of minimal values exist in the intensitycharacteristic. Therefore, a minimal value is selected in a totalchromatic dispersion range in which the eye aperture satisfies thereception condition.

The frequency of a specific frequency component is set equal to the bitrate of an optical signal. For example, where the bit rate of an opticalduo-binary modulation signal is 40 Gb/s as in this embodiment, a 40 GHzfrequency component of this optical duo-binary modulation signal isemployed as a specific frequency component.

FIGS. 8A-8C and 9A-9C show results of simulations in which input lightbeams having average optical power values Pin of 0 dBm, +3 dBm, +6 dBm,+9 dBm, +12 dBm, and +15 dBm are input to a single-mode optical fiberand transmitted through it over 50 km. In this case, 0 dBm, +3 dBm, and+6 dBm are input optical power values that are not sufficient to cause anonlinear optical effect and +9 dBm, +12 dBm, and +15 dBm are inputoptical power values large enough to cause a nonlinear optical effect.

In FIGS. 8A-8C and 9A-9C, marks “▴”, “▪”, and “Δ”, which exist in rangeswhere the eye aperture is sufficiently large, indicate a maximal valueof the intensity of a 40 GHz frequency component, a minimal value of theintensity of a 40 GHz frequency component, and a greatest value of theeye aperture, respectively.

Next, the functions and the advantages of this embodiment will bedescribed in more detail.

First, a description will be made of a case where the average inputoptical power of an optical signal is +3 dBm and the eye aperture is 0.7and the dispersion compensation method (1) is employed.

First, in installing an optical communication system that is composed ofthe optical sending station 11, the optical transmission line 12, theoptical receiving station 14, and, if necessary, the repeater stations13, an installation party sets the average input optical power of anoptical signal that is sent from the optical sending station 11 at +3dBm.

The optical sending station 11 sends out an optical duo-binary signal. Atest optical duo-binary signal may be sent out.

The optical signal thus sent is transmitted by the optical transmissionline 12 and received by the optical receiving station 14. The intensitydetecting part 22 of the optical receiving station 14 detects theintensity of a 40 GHz frequency component.

The CPU 128 varies the dispersion value of the VDC 121 from the smallestvalue to the greatest value at first constant intervals. For eachconstant interval, an output of the intensity detecting part 22 isstored in the memory 129 together with a dispersion value (voltagepattern) at that time. Outputs of the intensity detecting part 22 arerepresented by D0, D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dj.

The CPU 128 determines a greatest value from D0, D1, D2, D3, . . . , Djthat are stored in the memory 129. The greatest value is represented byDmax0.

The CPU 128 searches the memory 129 for a dispersion value (voltagepattern) corresponding to the greatest value, and adjusts the DVC 121 sothat it provides the dispersion value thus found. The CPU 128 stores thegreatest value Dmax0 in the memory 129.

The CPU 128 again varies the dispersion value of the VDC 121 in theincreasing direction at second constant intervals that are smaller thanthe first constant intervals and captures outputs of the intensitydetecting part 22. The greatest value of those outputs is represented byDmax1.

The CPU 128 compares Dmax0 and Dmax1.

If Dmax1 is greater than Dmax0, the CPU 128 makes Dmax1 a new Dmax0 andagain varies the dispersion value of the VDC 121 in the increasingdirection at the second constant intervals. The above operation isrepeated until Dmax1 becomes smaller than Dmax0, whereby a greatestvalue can be detected precisely in a case where Dmax0 is located on anintensity characteristic curve having a positive slope. Even when theoptical communication system is in service, the above operations may beperformed to cope with variations with time.

On the other hand, if Dmax1 is smaller than Dmax0, the CPU 128 does notmake Dmax1 a new Dmax0 and varies the dispersion value of the VDC 121 inthe decreasing direction at the second constant intervals from thedispersion value (voltage pattern) corresponding to Dmax0. The CPU 128captures outputs of the intensity detecting part 22. The greatest valueof those outputs is represented by Dmax2.

The CPU 128 compares Dmax0 and Dmax2.

If Dmax2 is greater than Dmax0, the CPU 128 makes Dmax2 a new Dmax0 andagain varies the dispersion value of the VDC 121 in the decreasingdirection at the second constant intervals. By repeating the aboveoperation until Dmax2 becomes smaller than Dmax0, a greatest value canbe detected precisely in a case where Dmax0 is located at an intensitycharacteristic curve having a negative slope. Even when the opticalcommunication system is in service, the above operations may beperformed to cope with variations with time.

Using two kinds of intervals, that is, the first and second intervals,the CPU 128 can detect a greatest value quickly and precisely.

Although the above description is directed to the case where the inputoptical power of an optical signal is +3 dBm, chromatic dispersion canbe compensated for in a similar manner for any input optical power suchas 0 dBm, +6 dBm, +9 dBm, +12 dBm, or +15 dBm. Where there exist aplurality of maximal values as in the cases of +9 dBm, +12 dBm, or +15dBm, data indicating where the target maximal value stands in thesuccession of maximal values in the variation range of total chromaticdispersion is stored in the memory 129 to allow the CPU 128 to extractthe target maximal value by referring to the data. Alternatively, thedispersion variation range of the VDC 121 is limited so that thevariation range of total chromatic dispersion is restricted so as toinclude only the target maximal value to allow the CPU 128 to extractthe target maximal value. In this manner, the CPU 128 is enabled toextract only the target maximal value among a plurality of maximalvalues.

Next, a description will be made of a case where the average inputoptical power of an optical signal is +3 dBm and the eye aperture is 0.7and the dispersion compensation method (2) is employed. Where the eyeaperture is 0.85, for example, chromatic dispersion cannot becompensated for by the dispersion compensation method (1) and hence itis necessary to employ the dispersion compensation method (2).

First, a configuration of the optical receiving station 24 that isemployed in this case will be described.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of a modified optical receiving stationthat is used in the optical communication system according to the firstembodiment.

The optical receiving station 24 is the same as the optical receivingstation 14 shown in FIG. 3 except that a fixed dispersion compensator(hereinafter abbreviated as “DC”) 151 is provided between the coupler122 and the PD 124 as shown in FIG. 10, and hence its configuration willnot be described.

Further, the optical communication system having the optical sendingstation 11, the optical transmission line 12, the optical receivingstation 24, and, if necessary, the repeater stations 13 have the samefunctions and advantages as that of method (1) and hence its functionsand advantages will not be described.

If the dispersion value of the DC 151 is set at about ±95 ps/nm in thecase of FIG. 8A, about ±98 ps/nm in the case of FIG. 8B, and about +95ps/nm and −97 ps/nm in the case of FIG. 8C, by always keeping theintensity at a greatest value the total chromatic dispersion can beoptimized so that the eye aperture is equal to a greatest value.

Next, a description will be made of a case where the average inputoptical power of an optical signal is +12 dBm and the eye aperture is0.8 and the dispersion compensation method (3) is employed. In thiscase, dispersion compensation is also possible with the dispersioncompensation method (1).

First, in installing an optical communication system that is composed ofthe optical sending station 11, the optical transmission line 12, theoptical receiving station 14, and, if necessary, the repeater stations13, an installation party sets the average input optical power of anoptical signal that is sent from the optical sending station 11 at +12dBm.

The optical sending station 11 sends out an optical duo-binary signal.

The optical signal thus sent is transmitted by the optical transmissionline 12 and received by the optical receiving station 14. The intensitydetecting part 22 of the optical receiving station 14 detects theintensity of a 40 GHz frequency component.

The CPU 128 varies the dispersion value of the VDC 121 from the smallestvalue to the greatest value at first constant intervals. For eachconstant interval, an output of the intensity detecting part 22 isstored in the memory 129 together with a dispersion value (voltagepattern) at that time. Outputs of the intensity detecting part 22 arerepresented by D0, D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dj.

The CPU 128 determines a smallest value from D0, D1, D2, D3, . . . , Djthat are stored in the memory 129. The smallest value is represented byDmin0.

Where there exist a plurality of minimal values, data indicating wherethe target minimal value stands in the succession of minimal values inthe variation range of total chromatic dispersion is stored in thememory 129 to allow the CPU 128 to extract the target maximal value byreferring to the data. Alternatively, the CPU 128 first detects agreatest value and then extracts the target minimal value by using thegreatest value as a reference. For example, in the case of FIG. 9B, thetarget minimal value is a minimal value that is found first when thetotal chromatic dispersion is decreased from the total chromaticdispersion value corresponding to the greatest value. As a furtheralternative, the dispersion variation range of the VDC 121 is limited sothat the variation range of total chromatic dispersion is restricted soas to include only the target minimal value to allow the CPU 128 toextract the target maximal value. In this manner, the CPU 128 is enabledto extract only the target minimal value among a plurality of minimalvalues.

The CPU 128 searches the memory 129 for a dispersion value (voltagepattern) corresponding to the minimal value, and adjusts the DVC 121 sothat it provides the dispersion value thus found. The CPU 128 stores theminimal value Dmin0 in the memory 129.

The CPU 128 again varies the dispersion value of the VDC 121 in theincreasing direction at second constant intervals that are smaller thanthe first constant intervals and captures outputs of the intensitydetecting part 22. The smallest value of those outputs is represented byDmin1.

The CPU 128 compares Dmin0 and Dmin1.

If Dmin1 is smaller than Dmin0, the CPU 128 makes Dmin1 a new Dmin0 andagain varies the dispersion value of the VDC 121 in the increasingdirection at the second constant intervals. The above operation isrepeated until Dmin1 becomes greater than Dmin0, whereby a minimal valuecan be detected precisely in a case where Dmin0 is located on anintensity characteristic curve having a negative slope. Even when theoptical communication system is in service, the above operations may beperformed to cope with variations with time.

On the other hand, if Dmin1 is greater than Dmin0, the CPU 128 does notmake Dmin1 a new Dmin0 and varies the dispersion value of the VDC 121 inthe decreasing direction at the second constant intervals from thedispersion value (voltage pattern) corresponding to Dmin0. The CPU 128captures outputs of the intensity detecting part 22. The smallest valueof those outputs is represented by Dmin2.

The CPU 128 compares Dmin0 and Dmin2.

If Dmin2 is smaller than Dmin0, the CPU 128 makes Dmin2 a new Dmin0 andagain varies the dispersion value of the VDC 121 in the decreasingdirection at the second constant intervals. By repeating the aboveoperation until Dmin2 becomes greater than Dmin0, a minimal value can bedetected precisely in a case where Dmin0 is located at an intensitycharacteristic curve having a positive slope. Even when the opticalcommunication system is in service, the above operations may beperformed to cope with variations with time.

Although the above description is directed to the case where the inputoptical power of an optical signal is +12 dBm, chromatic dispersion canbe compensated for in a similar manner for input optical power thatcauses a nonlinear optical effect such as +9 dBm or +15 dBm.

Second Embodiment

(Configuration)

A second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 11Aand 11B to FIG. 15. The second embodiment is directed to an opticalsending station, an optical communication system, and a dispersioncontrolling method according to the invention. Whereas in the firstembodiment the total chromatic dispersion is optimized by changing thechromatic dispersion value of the VDC 121, in the second embodiment thetotal chromatic dispersion is optimized by changing the wavelength ofthe optical carrier wave of an optical duo-binary signal.

As shown in FIG. 11A, an optical communication system according to thesecond embodiment is composed of an optical sending station 41, anoptical transmission line 12, and an optical receiving station 44.

An optical duo-binary signal generated by the optical sending station 41is sent to the optical transmission line 12 and then subjected toreception processing in the optical receiving station 44. A line throughwhich to transmit a control signal (described later) from the opticalreceiving station 44 to the optical sending station 41 is provided.

Where the transmission distance between the optical sending station 41and the optical receiving station 44 is long, a necessary number ofrepeater stations 13 are provided in the optical transmission line 12 asshown in FIG. 11B. Having an optical amplifier etc., each repeaterstation 13 amplifies an optical duo-binary signal.

The optical sending station 41 of the second embodiment is the same asthe optical sending station 11 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2except that as shown in FIG. 12 a wavelength-tunable laser (hereinafterabbreviated as “t-LD”) 161 is used in place of the LD 106 and an LDcontrolling circuit 162 is newly provided. Therefore, the configurationof the optical sending station 41 will not be described except for thedifferent components.

The t-LD 161 is a semiconductor laser capable of changing theoscillation wavelength such as a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR)wavelength-tunable laser, a distributed feedback (DFB)wavelength-tunable laser, a wavelength selection feedbackwavelength-tunable laser using an external diffraction grating, or acomposite resonator wavelength-tunable laser using an externalreflector.

The LD controlling circuit 162 receives a control signal to be used forcontrolling the t-LD 161 so that it oscillates at a predeterminedwavelength that is transmitted from a CPU 168 of the optical receivingstation 44 via the above-mentioned line. The LD controlling circuit 162controls the t-LD 161 so that it oscillates at the wavelength that isindicated by the received control signal. For example, in the case of aDBR wavelength-tunable laser or a DFB wavelength-tunable laser, theoscillation wavelength can be controlled by changing the devicetemperature of the t-LD 161 with a Peltier device or the like or bychanging the injection current of the t-LD 161 or by using both methods.

In the optical sending station 41, laser light having a predeterminedwavelength is emitted by the t-LD 161. As described in the firstembodiment, the laser light is input to the MZ modulator 107, where itis modulated in light intensity according to a duo-binary signal that isapplied to the electrodes 117. Modulated laser light is output to theoptical transmission line 12 as an optical duo-binary signal.

On the other hand, the optical receiving station 44 of the secondembodiment is the same as the optical receiving station 14 of the firstembodiment shown in FIG. 3 except that as shown in FIG. 13 a filter part51 and a controlling part 53 are provided in place of the dispersioncompensating part 21 and the controlling part 23, respectively.Therefore, the configuration of the optical receiving station 44 willnot be described except for the different components.

An optical duo-binary signal transmitted by the optical transmissionline 12 is input to a variable filter (hereinafter abbreviated as“VFil”) of the filter part 51.

The VFil 166 is a band-pass filter and can change its passing wavelengthrange. The passing wavelength range is controlled by the CPU 168 so asto pass the wavelength of the optical duo-binary signal.

An optical signal that is output from the VFil 166 is supplied to theoptical receiving part 123 and the intensity detecting part 22 via thecoupler 122. An output of the intensity detecting part 22 is input tothe CPU 168 of the controlling section 53. The controlling part 53 hasthe CPU 168 and a memory 169.

A table showing a relationship between passing wavelength ranges of theVFil 166 and control signals, programs for operation of the CPU 168,etc. are stored in advance in the memory 169. Various values etc. thatoccur during execution of a program are stored in the memory 169 on eachoccasion. The memory 169 returns a result in response to a request fromthe CPU 168.

Being a microprocessor or the like, the CPU 168 outputs a control signalto be used for controlling the passing wavelength range of the VFil 166to a VFil controlling circuit 167 of the filter part 51 (details ofcontrol will be described below) and also outputs a signal to be usedfor controlling the oscillation wavelength of the t-LD 161 of theoptical sending station 41 to the LD controlling circuit 162.

The filter part 51 is composed of the VFil 166 and the VFil controllingcircuit 167 for driving the VFil 166. The VFil controlling circuit 167changes the passing wavelength range of the VFil 166 according to asignal that is supplied from the CPU 168.

As described above, the optical receiving part 44 is composed of thefilter part 51, the coupler 122 for branching input light into twoparts, the optical receiving part 123, the intensity detecting part 22,and the controlling part 53.

The filter part 51 can receive an optical duo-binary signal and canchange its own passing wavelength range. The intensity detecting part 22detects the intensity of a specific frequency component of an opticalduo-binary signal. The controlling part 53 adjusts the wavelength of anoptical signal so that the output of the intensity detecting part 22 hasa predetermined extreme value, and adjusts the passing wavelength rangeof the filter part 51 to pass the thus-adjusted wavelength.

In the second embodiment, a control signal to be used for adjusting theoscillation wavelength of the t-LD 161 is transmitted from the opticalreceiving station 44 to the optical sending station 41 via the dedicatedphysical line. However, the invention is not limited to such a case. Forexample, in the case of an optical wavelength division multiplexingsignal, an optical signal having one of its wavelengths may be used.Alternatively, undefined bytes of a section overhead of SDH (synchronousdigital hierarchy) may be used. The section overhead is a portion foraccommodating information that is necessary for operation of a network,such as maintenance information and a status monitor.

Functions and Advantages of the Second Embodiment

In the optical communication system according to the second embodiment,the same effects as obtained in the first embodiment by changing thedispersion value of the VDC 121 are obtained by changing the wavelengthof an optical signal. Therefore, the functions and advantages of thesecond embodiment can be described in the same manner as those of thefirst embodiment and hence will not be described.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show exemplary relationships between the intensity vs.wavelength characteristic and the eye aperture vs. wavelengthcharacteristic. FIG. 14A is obtained by converting the total chromaticdispersion into the wavelength in FIG. 8A (input optical power Pin=0dBm). FIG. 14B is obtained by converting the total chromatic dispersioninto the wavelength in FIG. 9A (input optical power Pin=+9 dBm). Figurescorresponding to FIGS. 8B, 8C, 9B, and 9C can also be obtained by thesame manner of conversion.

As seen from FIGS. 14A and 14B, distribution compensation methodssimilar to the above-described dispersion compensation methods (1)-(3)can be used in the second embodiment. Therefore, the total chromaticdispersion of the optical communication system can also be optimized bythe second embodiment.

A description will be made of the configuration of an optical receivingstation 64 in which the intensity of a specific frequency component isdetected via a fixed dispersion compensator.

FIG. 15 shows the configuration of a modified optical receiving stationthat is used in the optical communication system according to the secondembodiment.

The optical receiving station 64 is the same as the optical receivingstation 44 shown in FIG. 13 except that a DC 171 is provided between thecoupler 122 and the PD 124 as shown in FIG. 15, and hence itsconfiguration will not be described. By using the optical receivingstation 64 in place of the optical receiving station 44 shown in FIG.11, a dispersion compensation method similar to the above-describeddispersion compensation method (2) can be realized by changing thewavelength of an optical signal can be realized.

Although the first and second embodiments are directed to the opticalcommunication systems that deal with a single-wavelength opticalduo-binary signal, the invention can also be applied to a wavelengthdivision multiplexing optical communication system. That is, theinvention may be practiced for each wavelength component after awavelength division multiplexing optical signal is separated intodifferent wavelength components.

Although the first and second embodiments are directed to the case wherethe specific frequency component has the frequency of 40 GHz, theinvention can also be applied to cases of other frequency componentsbecause the specific relationship holds between the intensitycharacteristic and the eye aperture characteristic.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments and variousmodifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. Any improvements may be made in part or all of thecomponents.

1. A dispersion controlling method controlling chromatic dispersion ofan optical duo-binary signal transmitted to an optical transmissionline, comprising: detecting intensity of a specific frequency componentof said optical duo-binary signal; and adjusting a total dispersionamount of said optical transmission line so that the intensity detectedhas a predetermined extreme value.
 2. A dispersion controlling apparatuscontrolling chromatic dispersion of an optical duo-binary signaltransmitted to an optical transmission line, comprising: means fordetecting intensity of a specific frequency component of said opticalduo-binary signal; and means for adjusting a total dispersion amount ofsaid optical transmission line so that the intensity detected has apredetermined extreme value.